accruing to the Fund from July 1, 1978 through June 30, 1983 shall be used to
supplement funds necessary to carry out the duties of the People's Counsel of the
Public Service Commission. The People's Counsel shall submit an annual budget of
necessary supplemental funds to the Department to be incorporated in the
Department's budget. For the purposes of this subtitle, the Secretary, in consultation
with the Director of the Maryland Energy Administration, may execute appropriate
contracts with any State or federal agency, research organization, industry, or
academic institution to conduct the necessary research, construct or acquire, or both,
real property including physical predictive models, laboratories, buildings, land, and
appurtenances, or support the technological development of extraordinary systems
related to power plants designed to minimize environmental impact. [He] THE
SECRETARY may utilize available expertise in any other State unit in the
development, execution, and management of contracts and agreements on projects
relating to their areas of prime responsibility.

(d) (1) The Maryland Energy Administration shall receive administrative
and fiscal support from the Fund for studies relating to the conservation or
production of electric energy.

(2) Fiscal support to the Maryland Energy Administration from the
Fund may not exceed $250,000 in any fiscal year.

(e) The Legislative Auditor shall conduct post audits of a fiscal and
compliance nature of the Fund and of the appropriations and expenditures made for
the purposes of this subtitle. The cost of the fiscal portion of the post audit
examinations shall be an operating cost of the Fund.

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 3 of this Act shall
take effect July 1, 2000, provided that, if the Public Service Commission delays
implementation of customer choice in accordance with the provisions of § 7-510(b) of
the Public Utility Companies Article, the surcharge funding the Environmental Trust
Fund pursuant to § 7-203 of the Public Utility Companies Article shall continue to be
collected as a per kilowatt hour surcharge on electricity generated within the State
until customer choice is implemented.

SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Governor is
authorized to submit a budget amendment for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000,
transferring $6,000,000 from the Revenue Stabilization Fund to be used for the
purpose of educating consumers on electric utility industry restructuring. In
accordance with § 7-505(b) of the Public Utility Companies Article, the Public Service
Commission shall use the allocated funds during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000,
to implement a consumer education program informing customers of changes in the
electric industry. On or before September 1, 1999, the Public Service Commission
shall report to the Governor and, subject to § 2-1246 of the State Government Article,
to the General Assembly on: (1) the recommended funding level, between $3,000,000
and $6,000,000, for the consumer education program for the fiscal year ending June
30, 2001; (2) the recommended method of funding, for the program; and (3) if
applicable, the impact that the funding method will have on customers' costs for
electricity. On or before September 1, 2000, the Public Service Commission shall
report to the Governor and, subject to § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, to